Merz: 80% of Syrians in Germany should return in three years

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that 80% of the more than 900,000 Syrian nationals in Germany should return to their home country in the next three years.

At a press conference with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Berlin on Monday, Merz said the leaders agreed that over the "longer term of the next three years," around "80% of the Syrians currently in Germany should return to their homeland.

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"That was also the wish of President Sharaa," Merz said, adding that "those Syrians who wish to remain in Germany and are well integrated will be able to stay in Germany.

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Germany was one of the main destinations for Syrian refugees fleeing the devastating civil war, with around 1 million arriving in the country during dictator Bashar al-Assad's time in power.

Calls for Syrian nationals to leave Germany have risen in conservative and far-right circles following al-Assad's ousting in late 2024 by an Islamist coalition led by al-Sharaa.